Improvement in shroud-blocks



0. E. HUSS. Shroud-Block.

No. 220,621. Patented Oct. 14, 1879.

WITNESSES l l l' l (ATTORNEYS.

N.PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON4 D c.

UNITED' STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR E. HUSS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO DAY O. CRANE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHROUD-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,621, (lated October 14, 1879; application iled September 6, 1879.

To all whom 'it 'mail concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR E. Huss, of Washington, in the county of Washington and District ot' Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shroud- Blocks 3 vand I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and opera-tion ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a, part of this specitication, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a plan of my shroud-biock. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view, and Fig. 3 is a side-elevation view.

The nature ot this invention consists in an improved shroudblock adapted to be employed in shrouding the masts of vessels, and also in numerous other instances where ropes are to be drawn taut, as will be fully described in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A designates a hook having its shank arranged to slide within a twopart casing, B.. This casin g is formed so that the hook may be partially retracted therein, and it is provided with a spring, C, which forces the hook out until checked by a nut, D, which is titted upon the shank and adapted to strike against the casing.

The shank end of the hook is screwed into the nut D, so that the hook may be adjusted and extended out more or less from the casing, according to the diameter of the ropes which are to be griped between the casin g and the hook.

E E designate two pairs of metal straps or bars, which 'are pivoted at their upper ends in the casing B; and F F, two blocks or frames, which are pivoted between the lower expanded ends of the straps.

One of the blocks Fis formedwith extended sides G, while the remaining block is formed with short sides and an extended bar, G', intermediate of the same, the said bar G and the side bars, G, being made with slots H,

which constitute thel beaiin gs for an axle-rod, I, upon which the pulley-wheels K are ioosely mounted.

Secured to the nut-piece D, in which the Shank of thehook A is fitted, as hereinbefore described, are two laterally-projecting pivots, L, and upon these are pivoted four metal straps or rods, M M and N N. The inner pair of straps, M, are expanded at their pivotal ends, so as to embrace the nut D, and are separated from the outer straps, N, by means ot suitable washers.

Upon the outer ends of the pivots are suitable nuts or heads for maintaining the straps thereon.

The straps M are also pivoted to the bar or arm G ot' one of the blocks F, while the straps N are pivoted to the sides or arms G of the remaining block or frame. As herein shown, the pivotal points ot' these straps upon the blocks are arranged between the slots and the pivots ot the straps E E, and hence will be between the bea-rings of the axle upon which the pulley-wheels are mounted and the pivots by which the blocks and straps E are connected.

O designates a clevis, which is secured upon the ends of the axleI; and P, a ring or staple, to which the rope Q is secured.

In order to effectively apply the power requisite to operate the above mechanism, I provide a block and tackle, which may consist of the pulley-block R, pulley-wheels S, and rope Q, the block R being, in use, connected with a hook or staple'or other device in convenient position.

The operation is as follows: The hook A is caught upon the rope or shroud which is to be tightened, and the pulley -rope tightened up until the tension thereot upon the pulleywheels and clevis causes the blocks F to turn upon their pivotal bearings, and draws the axle of the said wheels toward the ends ot' the slots which are formed in the arms G C. In this way these arms constitute levers which cause the hook to be partially retracted Within the casing B, so as to firmly gripe the rope or shroud, and as the pulleyrope is still further tightened the rotation ot the blocks F upon the pivots of the stra-ps M and N will force the casin g B with great power upon the shroud through the medium ofthe straps E E, whereby all danger of slipping as the shroud is being tightened will be obviated.

In some instances I propose forming the hook with a curved spring-bolt, T, so that when a rope is griped between the hook and casing the bolt may be projected, so as to guard against any lateral displacement of the rope from between the two. When desired, the bolt may be retracted within the casing and secured by a suitably-arran ged catch, U.

' The hook may also be made single or double, as shown.

The above apparatus may be employed for numerous purposes, among which may be mentioned the letting down boats from the davits of a ship, tightening the shrouds of avessel, and in drawing tant any ropes whatsoever. The casing B may be continued down, so as to take the place of thc straps E, the tame result being attained.

What I claim is- 1. The hook A, adjust-ably fitted in the nut D, in combination with the casing B, pivoted pulleyblocks F, and metal straps connecting the said blocks with the hook and casing, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. The combination of the hook A, casing B, and spring with the blocks F F and the straps E M N, pivoted at both ends, as set forth.

3. The blocks F F, formed with the arms G G', having the slots H, in combination with the hook A, casing B, the straps E, pivoted to the blocks and the casing, and the straps M N, pivoted to the arms of the blocks and connected with the hook, substantially as set forth.

4. The pivoted blocks F F, having slotted arms arranged to constitute bearings for the axle upon which the pulley wheels K are mounted, in combination with the hook, cas ing, connectingstraps, and the clevis 0, with block and tackle connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

5. The pivoted blocks F F, formed with the arms G and G', in combination with the axle I, having its bearings within slots formed in the arms of the blocks, the loosely-mounted pulley-wheels K, the straps E E, pivoted to the casing B and the blocks, and the straps M N, connected by pivots with the nut D, and pivoted to the arms of the blocks at points intermediate of the a'xle of the pulleywheels and pivotal points of the straps E upon the blocks, substantially as shown and set forth.

1n testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR E. HUSS.

Witnesses JAMES J. SHEEHY, ROBERT EvERE'rT. 

